By: M.S.Yatnatti Editor and Video Journalist BENGALURU:The Bengaluru Urban district administration on Wednesday took
possession of the Salarpuria Towers located in Koramangala, reportedly saying it
was built on two acres of land that actually belongs to the State
government. The market value of the property is estimated to be Rs 500
crore. The multi-storey building houses Janasri news
channel, Big Bazaar, Shoppers Stop and Bata showrooms. District
officials hinted that the property is the benami of a politician from
Ballari who was arrested by the CBI in the mining scam.

L C
Nagaraj, Assistant Commissioner, Bengaluru South sub-division, said reportedly that
the land in survey number 149 of Koramangala village belonged to the
government after the abolition of the Inam land. "Interested persons
should have claimed right over the land soon after the abolition of the
Inam land in the 50s, which was not done,” he told media.Nagaraj explained that the property had changed hands but the fact
remained that under sections 7 (2), 7 (3) and 7 (4) of the Mysore
(Personal and Miscellaneous) Inams Abolition Rules, 1956, proper
application was not submitted. K B Yellappa Reddy, one of the owners,
hadn't submitted the partition deed even when his father was alive at
the time of the Karnataka Certain Inams Abolition Act, 1977. Hence, the
district administration passed the order about taking possession of the
land.

The order read: "The claim for occupancy rights by K B
Yellappa Reddy on survey number 149, Koramangala village, Begur hobli,
Bengaluru South taluk, measuring an extent of three acres and 33 guntas
is rejected...” According to Nagaraj, the dispute had been going on for
long. After the district administration rejected the claim of ownership
by some individuals, the claimants moved the Karnataka High Court, which
again referred the matter to the district administration. Finally,
after hearing the matter, the district authorities rejected the claim
and took over the property. The traders are baffled that the district
administration sent them notices, ordering them to vacate the building
in 15 days. The CEO of Janasri refused to comment on the matter while a
spokesperson for Salarpuria Builders expressed ignorance about any such
development.